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For Wairarapa Folks Passionate About Cleaning Up This Earth

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Conservation Week Coming Up - Get Involved!

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 01:01 PM on August 30, 2009 Comments comments (0)

 

 

Conservation Week 2009 is packed with loads of activities to get involved with including restoring Castlepoint sand dunes, photo competitions, scavenger hunts, beach clean-ups, walks and conservation korero with DOC experts. And that's just the half of it! See the WaiNot events calendar for details of the weeks events' or click here to view the Conservation Week Events Poster and  the Conservation Week website

 

Win a $50 market hamper from the Wairarapa Farmers Market!

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 12:38 PM on August 30, 2009 Comments comments (0)

 

The Wairarapa Farmers Market is running a special promotion - simply sign up for their weekly market email and go in the monthly draw to win a $50 market hamper. The update email lets market goers know what's new that week at the market.

 

Join the mailing list at waifarmersmarket.org.nz and keep an eye out for the changes to their new website.

 

The market also has a new manager, John Hart (contact details below). All the best for the new role John!

 

John Hart

Market Manager

Wairarapa Farmers' Market

john@waifarmersmarket.org.nz

twitter: @waifarmersmkt

web: waifarmersmarket.org.nz

Market Phone 021 0437899

Lower Hutt local eco-building in South Africa!

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 12:24 PM on August 30, 2009 Comments comments (0)

              

 

Some of you may remember James Bellamy, from Lower Hutt. James came to the Wairarapa a couple of years ago to facilitate an earthbuilding pizza oven workshop. All in all about 50 people turned up from around the Wairarapa and a great day was had. Originally from Lower Hutt, James has worked extensively in the field of sustainable building, with projects in the UK, South Africa and elsewhere. 

 

For those of you that met James and would like to see pictures of the beautiful earth domes he was helping to construct in South Africa, click on the link below to see pictures. James is now back in NZ and amongst other things, is involved in helping to organise NZ's first climate camp.

Eco-Building Pics from South Africa

Makoura Stream Project Update

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 12:22 PM on August 30, 2009 Comments comments (0)

  

 

A lot has has been happening on and around the Makoura stream over the last wee while. Click on the link below to find out all about recent plantings, updates on the biodiversity of the stream and what's coming up over the next few months.  
 

Makoura Stream Restoration Project - Winter Newsletter

 

1st Climate Camp Coming to Aotearoa!

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 12:16 PM on August 30, 2009 Comments comments (0)

 

www.climatecamp.org.nz

Aotearoa's first ever Climate Camp seeks to address the real causes of climate change and build a people's movement that can and will stop disastrous climate change.

 

There are at least 19 Climate Camps being held across the world in 2009; each situated at a different target; each making the link between local struggles for environmental justice with the global imperative of climate change.

 

This year Climate Camps are popping up at coal mines, coal fired power stations, an airport in France, a nuclear reactor in Lapland, the European Carbon Exchange in London and more. NZ's Climate Camp will host workshops on everything from sustainable energy use and direct action, to community gardening and internet hacking. The final day culminates in a Day of Action, where people take real action against the root causes of climate change.

 

Come to climate camp for:

Sustainable Living Tips: the camp is an example of a sustainable temporary eco village using a horizontal organising structure. Yes - that means you make all the decisions at climate camp.

Education: heaps of free workshops

Direct Action: focusing on False Solutions to Climate Change

Movement Building: the beginings of a peoples Climate Justice Movement in Aotearoa

 

To be held in Wellington, from the 16th-21st of December - see the website for more details

Bottled Water Disaster - Are You Using Plastic Bottles?

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 01:56 PM on May 14, 2009 Comments comments (1)

I recently received this powerpoint about the impact of plastic bottles by email. Its horrifying! check out the plastic vortexs in the pacific and atlantic. They are enormous and have been equmilating since plastic product first went into production in the 50's. That means there is 60 year old plastic floating in the sea. The size of one these plastic vortex stretch's from Hawaii to Japan and in some places measure 10 metres in depth.

 

Download the powerpoint presentation here

 

If you are interested in finding out more check these guys Project Kaisei - Capturing the Plastic Vortex. they are actually trying to do something. They are backed by some big guns such as the UN and Green Peace but they also need support from the little people too.

 

If you are keen to get a stainless steel eco- bottle for yourself or your little ones, you can order them online at www.justherbal.co.nz

 

 

 

Marine Conservation - SeaWeek 2009

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 01:24 PM on February 20, 2009 Comments comments (4)

The essential theme of Seaweek continues this year with a call for each and every one of us to take responsibility for the seas around us - "It Starts With Me" - in 2009 we will be thinking particularly about what lies under the surface. According to the Seaweek campaign, one of the challenges of marine conservation comes from the fact that we only really see what lies around and over the sea, rather than the immense scope of life and geography which lies beneath it.

 

So get involved this Seaweek - get out your snorkel and flippers and go for a lookabout or encourage a young person you know to enter the Seaweek Art Competition for Under 18's. The theme is Mountains to the Sea and all entries must be sent into DOC, 220 South Road in Masterton by Friday 6th of March. The art will be displayed around the Wairarapa. First prize is an original Sam Ludden tuna/eel sculpture!

 

Other activities include a stream planting at the R.W. Tate Reserve at Papawai Road in Greytown (10.30am on Wednesday 4th of March) and "Caring for Our Coast" weed removal at Onoke Spit in South Wairarapa (10.30am on Sunday 8th of March). For more information contact Amanda Cosgrove at the Department of Conservation on (06) 377 0723

 

Click here to view the SeaWeek Flyer
Click here to visit the Seaweek Website 

Sustainable Wairarapa Membership Drive

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 12:39 PM on February 20, 2009 Comments comments (0)
Sustainable Wairarapa are involved in supporting several fantastic Wairarapa environmental initiatives including: 
 
  • the Makoura Stream Restoration project;
  • the planting of eucalyptus trees to facilitate uptake of land-based treated effluent disposal at Homebush;
  • a variety of environmental submissions to local Councils and GWRC;
  • a number of educational and very successful film evenings.

                   

 

Until now, the group has been rather relaxed about subscriptions - some have come in voluntarily and some projects have been funded or part-funded by grants applied for and received. However, with some fairly major costs on the eucalypt project and other potential projects in the pipeline, Sustainable Wairarapa have decided to broaden their base of active members and to institute a policy of an annual subscription based on the calendar year.

 
To encourage membership SW are asking just $10 p.a. plus a donation of whatever you can afford
This organisation is creating real change in our community - support them by joining up now!
You can pay by cash, cheque or internet banking transfer.
Click here to complete the subscription form and post with payment to PO Box 14, Carterton
Alternatively contact Eric Turner on 06 379 6510  eric.turner@wise.net.nz
  

Balloons Over Wairarapa - Free Fundraising Opportunity

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 12:18 PM on February 20, 2009 Comments comments (0)


On the evening of Sat the 21st March Balloons Over Wairarapa will be holding its "Night Glow" event at the Colin Pugh Sports Ground. This is a wonderful family evening where the balloons are tethered, inflated and lit up to music. Entry is by gold coin donation. There will also be other entertainment offered prior to inflating the balloons. 

Fundraising Opportunity
Balloons over Wairarapa are making sites available at the event for community groups to use as a fundraiser. If you would like a site, let them know as soon as possible because they will be opening up the sites to commercial operators who will pay to use them.  They will give you some assistance and your sites will be free.   The entertainment will start at 6.00 and the program will probably go till 8ish.    


For more information phone Jonathan on (06) 377 1572 or 027 486 645 or email: synergyconsultants@xtra.co.nz
www.nzballoons.co.nz

Re-developed Pukaha Mt Bruce Now Open

Posted by Janine @ Wai Not Go Green at 12:11 PM on February 20, 2009 Comments comments (0)

 

                                                               

Computer-generated, moving images of birds that early settlers would have encountered when the forest was first noisy with birdlife will give visitors a sense of what New Zealand used to be like. Stories of local iwi Rangitaane o Wairarapa also feature strongly.

 

Visitors will be able to discover the efforts being made to protect and restore the forest to which kaka, kiwi and kokako (a relative of the extinct huia) have been returned. Children can experience what the forest is like at night through a virtual nocturnal encounter in a massive rata tree, modelled on a tree from the Pukaha forest. The log contains digital creepy crawlies which ‘come to life’ when illuminated by a torch operated by children.

 

Pukaha Mount Bruce Board chairman, Bob Francis, said the $1.4 million upgrade has added ‘huge value’ to the visitor experience at Pukaha and was expected to increase in visitor numbers by at least 10 percent to more than 40,000 per year. “This is an exciting project which will have positive spin offs for regional tourism as well as providing a world-class facility for locals to visit,” said Mr Francis. “The new interactive area really is a stunning new addition to the centre.” The interactive exhibits have been created by Lumen Digital which has worked on some of New Zealand’s leading visitor attractions.

 

The redevelopment has been led by the Pukaha Mount Bruce Board which has received funding from community trusts and philanthropic organisations. Trust House Charitable Trust was the major funder of visitor centre upgrade contributing $400,000. The Lion Foundation, Eastern and Central Community Trust, NZ Community Trust, Central Energy Trust and a range of other organisations have contributed.
An easily-accessible, two-hour return walking track with lookout through the forest was completed several months ago. Mr Francis said the track further enhances the visitor experience by giving people the chance to get amongst the native forest and see the birds in their natural environment.


Outdoor attractions at Pukaha include the nocturnal kiwi house, tuatara, takahe, daily giant eel and kaka feeding, guided tours by DOC rangers, and the viewing of native birds in aviaries and the native forest.
The project is stage one of a two-stage planned upgrade of facilities at Pukaha Mount Bruce.
Mr Francis said the second stage would involve improving the outdoor experience, upgrading the aviaries and captive breeding facilities, and extensions to kitchen, café and classroom space.

 

Further information from: Bob Francis, Chairman, Pukaha Mount Bruce Board

Ph: 06 377 0447, Mob 027 4447677

www.mtbruce.org

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Article and Photo Source: Destination Wairarapa/Mt Bruce Websites 



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